Dogs can develop a variety of health issues in their private areas, and while you might not exactly be keen to check out these parts of your pet's body to see if something is wrong, noticing certain changes can be a good warning sign that your pet needs the care of a local veterinarian. If you have a female dog, one common condition to watch for is vaginitis. This is an inflammation of the vagina, and while it's not particularly serious, it does require veterinary care. The following things can alert you to a likely case of vaginitis for your dog.

Chronic Licking

It's normal for a dog to lick this part of its body several times a day. Your dog may always do so after urinating, for example, and may also spend time licking at other instances. If you notice that your dog is licking this area a lot more than usual, it can often be your first indicator that something might be wrong. Vaginitis causes some discomfort in this region, and dogs will almost always lick an area that is uncomfortable. Rather than perhaps trying to reprimand the animal to cease this behavior, you should see it as an indicator of a problem.

Swelling

Even if you seldom look at this part of your dog's body, you probably have an idea of how it looks when it's healthy. If you've seen your dog chronically licking its vagina, it's a good idea to inspect the area. When the animal has vaginitis, you'll often notice that the area looks swollen and inflamed. In some cases, it can appear more red or pink than usual, which is an indicator of the inflammation that is present. Depending on the breed of dog, you may have to part some of its long fur to get a good look at the area to see if it looks unusual.

Discharge

Vaginitis can also cause discharge from the vagina, which may be evident at certain times. For example, if your dog is resting on its bed, you might notice a wet spot on the fabric after the dog gets up. A closer inspection of this part of the animal's anatomy may also reveal discharge, which can have a yellowish color and sometimes have a thick consistency. Keep in mind that if your dog is always licking this area, it may remove any traces of discharge before you can see them. If you're seeing signs that are consistent with vaginitis, contact your local veterinary clinic to set an appointment and discuss treatment options.

Talk to a local vet to learn more.